{"id":18178,"date":"2025-06-16T16:08:37","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T20:08:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ash.harvard.edu\/?post_type=issue&p=18178"},"modified":"2025-11-13T13:07:32","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T18:07:32","slug":"sports-and-civic-participation","status":"publish","type":"issue","link":"https:\/\/ash.harvard.edu\/issues\/sports-and-civic-participation\/","title":{"rendered":"Sports and Civic Participation"},"template":"","class_list":["post-18178","issue","type-issue","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"details":{"short_description":"Seeking to explore ways teams can collaborate with election administrators, public officials and voters to promote democratic participation","landing_page_image":18184,"featured_image":18184,"media_credit":"Lilah Haye, Former Boston City Councilor Kenzie Bok","helper_page_feature":{"text":"","link":""},"related_programs":[51],"feed_section_title":""},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"Anyone who is a fan of a professional sports team in the United States understands the strong bond many Americans have with their sports, teams, athletes \u2013 and their fellow fans. Sports teams are in a unique position to leverage this special power to support and inspire greater civic engagement and dialogue across difference in the communities they are a part of. The Ash Center\u2019s research on sports and civic engagement seeks to explore ways teams can collaborate with election administrators, public officials and voters to provide exciting and enjoyable ways of participating in our democracy.\r\n\r\nThis work began in 2020 when, in close partnership with local election officials around the country, 48 teams and facility owners opened the doors of their arenas so that voters could use their stadiums as polling sites. After the 2020 election, scholars Michael Hanmer<\/a>, David Nickerson<\/a>, Robert Stein<\/a>, Frank Guridy<\/a>, and the Ash Center\u2019s Tova Wang teamed up to research what impact having voting at stadiums and arenas had on voting and election administration. The findings of our report<\/a> held true across the country and across political parties: Election administrators, team owners and staff, and voters loved using stadiums as polling places.\r\n\r\nAsh continues to conduct research and provide programming on the role that sports teams can play in boosting civic engagement by making it a fun, engaging, and community building exercise.\r\n